21st October 2021 / Prue Fletcher: You Can Sit With Us

A guide to help us successfully return to the art of Dinner Party hosting

Well Melbourne, we are finally here! After a nearly 2 year long enforced dinner party drought, take the week to quickly work back up the stamina because come Friday we're back...and so are our social lives! And what better way than to welcome in our newfound freedoms than to have 10 of your nearest and dearest over to share an intimate meal where they feel at ease, safe and once again like the very best version of themselves!

Dinner Parties, one of the great Covid casualties of the past 20 months, are generally one of life's greatest joys. In the words of Delia Baron, Co-Author of the widely successful series of cookbooks Better Together Kitchen, she describes beautifully how 'food shared with those we love is a catalyst for conversation, an expression of appreciation and a symbol of celebration'. So much of which has been lost on us over recent months.

So, as we look forward and not back, let's gather our favourite people and recipes and prepare for a night of robust conversation & heart warming hugs.

We've missed you Melbourne, welcome home!

PREP

56 Alpha Street, Balwyn North

Ensure you have all the finer details out of the way before your guests start to arrive. Mix and dress your garnishes ahead of time. Bring out the tableware, arrange fresh decor items, light the candles and decanter the wine, all of which will ensure your table is looking set & read for when guests arrive. Wash and empty the dishwasher as part of your prep - there's nothing more stressful than trying to entertain your guests while looking for a clean knife amongst piles of dishes!

SPEND & SAVE

Nowadays, you don't need to dust off the crockery set you received as part of your wedding registry to make a lasting impression. Dora at @thewoodsfolk has an incredible range of modern & affordable choices for you to decorate your table. When deciding on glassware, pay attention to sizes and make sure you have practical and elegant options for your whites and reds. A glass of Perrier-Jouet just won't taste the same from a thick-rimmed goblet.

SCENTS

My advice: try not to compete too much with the flavoursome aromas of your cooking. While I agree that flowers and candles can set the tone for a beautiful evening, I have always been of the belief that less is more. When choosing scents for your bathroom, some of my favourite collections can be found via @sohmelbourne, where you can purchase candles named after iconic areas of Melbourne for that extra special touch.

ZONING

Once the meal has finished, I always enjoy moving guests from the dining table to a more relaxed environment. Have a dessert wine at the ready, some high-quality sweets or chocolates on hand and change your Spotify playlist to Relaxed Chill. In Airbnb terms - you're well on your way to becoming a 'Super Host'.

TECH-FREE EVENT

Be gone any form of social media and make your evening a tech-free zone.

We have waited SO LONG to return to good old fashion conversation and connection, work on being ever present. Tik Tok and Instagram showcase the highlights of someone's curated life and are often organised in order of interest and humour. The same thing can be said of a good wordsmith and your actual life. It's called the art of telling a good story. Try it.

#FOODINSPO

For a guide to effortless entertaining, we can't go past the talented duo, Ronnit & Delia, from Better Together Kitchen. These women are inspired by their belief that everything really is better together and have created a cult following with their wholesome and nourishing recipes they love sharing with their family, friends and community.

If you are looking for new ways to plate up a salad, add some colour and vibrancy to your table decor, then look no further than these two!

CLICK HERE for more of their recipes and effortless entertaining ideas.

Head to our Instagram page @Fletchers_Realestate to ENTER our competition with Better Together Kitchen where you will go in the draw to WIN Book 1 & 2 from their recent entertaining collection!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER